Using oil extractor for oil service

[Zachlain]

Hi Guys,

I have a E46 BMW 320d and am thinking of doing an oil service but dont have trolley jacks to lift the car up and if honest, dont really want the hassle of lifting the car in the area where I live...

...Thus, i have been thinking of using a an oil extractor (like in ebay link below) and am wondering if any of you guys have used this before? I think it should fit into the dipstick of a BMW but i think I will measure dipstick diameter before i think of buying it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4L-SYPHON-PUMP-FLUID-EXT...

any thoughts?

[anonymous-user]

I've got a similar pump to that and have changed the oil. It does work very well IMO. Just make sure the oil is warmed up first.

[anonymous-user]

Is it really that hard to jack the car up and remove the sump plug? BMW even thought of adding a flap to the undertray so you don't have to take the whole thing off.

[Zachlain]

Joey Deacon said:

Is it really that hard to jack the car up and remove the sump plug? BMW even thought of adding a flap to the undertray so you don't have to take the whole thing off.

Its not hard mate, but the problem is I have no room to jack the car up in my garage as it is quite small. The entry leading upto the garage has soggy wet ground. Finally, I hate working on cars in the street as it is not always conveniant.

I hope I can sneak another question in - is it hard to remove the oil filter? i.e. does it need a special wrench/tool?

[aizvara]

I'm theoretically not allowed to do any work on my car where I live, and its hard to fully lift the car on the surface I have. So, I used a pela oil extractor. Very easy. Make sure the oil is warmed up a bit before doing it. Mine came with a variety of diameter extractor tubes, and fitted the dipstick tube (e46) easily.

Probably doesn't get all the oil entirely out, but it certainly got 6 litres ish.

[TheEnd]

BMW oil filters usually tend to be very easy to get to and change, they aren't keen on those screw on cans halfway down the block that you have to hammer a screwdriver through.

[anonymous-user]

Zachlain said:

Joey Deacon said:

Is it really that hard to jack the car up and remove the sump plug? BMW even thought of adding a flap to the undertray so you don't have to take the whole thing off.

Its not hard mate, but the problem is I have no room to jack the car up in my garage as it is quite small. The entry leading upto the garage has soggy wet ground. Finally, I hate working on cars in the street as it is not always conveniant.

I hope I can sneak another question in - is it hard to remove the oil filter? i.e. does it need a special wrench/tool?

Yes, and I bought the socket required from Halfords. I think it needs to be torqued to about 25nm (says on the screw top) so you will need to borrow a torque wrench if you don't have one.

[aizvara]

Zachlain said:

I hope I can sneak another question in - is it hard to remove the oil filter? i.e. does it need a special wrench/tool?

You'll need a wide diameter socket to get the thing off, I think. 36mm from memory. Not hard with that tool, though. Make sure you've got the replacement o-ring for the cartridge, and put some oil on it, otherwise its a bugger to re fit the oil filter cartridge.

[NickXX]

The extractors are great - but do make sure the oil is hot (not lukewarm) before extracting it, as it will make it a hell of a lot easier.

The oil filter is easy to get to, and very easy to change. Make sure you change the O-rings and washers though (the washers are compressed when you fit them and are one use only). You should get both with the oil filter, be it from BMW/Halfords/GSF, etc.

[Pickled Piper]

I've been using an extractor pump for many years. It works extremely well.

pp

[BlitzE34]

TheEnd said:

BMW oil filters usually tend to be very easy to get to and change, they aren't keen on those screw on cans halfway down the block that you have to hammer a screwdriver through.

M20B25's oil filter is tricky as its under a hot exhaust manifold. Hammer and screwdriver sorts that out.

[Defcon5]

Are there any downsides to using one of these?

[griffter]

Defcon5 said:

Are there any downsides to using one of these?

It won't get all the oil out, and it won't allow any particles in the sump to come out with the oil (which they would if the oil flowed out through the drain plug hole).
You can't clean the (magnetic?) drain plug.

That said, as a between-proper-services measure it's better to do it this way than not at all.

[tgr]

Main dealers change oil this way I have heard. I wonder whether they change the one-use-washer too? My guess would be not...

[Zachlain]

I serviced my BMW using the Pela 6000 this afternoon.

Thanks to the Pela, all 5.5 litres were extracted and I used it to suck up oil in the filter housing too. I feel really happy to have done the job and have saved on garage costs.

My only question at present is how do you guys clean your oil extractors? Do you use a degreaser to rinse it and then empty into an oil drain can?

[Patrick Bateman]

A friend of mine (ex-BMW) mentioned about some new Audis having to be done this way as they don't have a sump plug, is this true?

[TheEnd]

I haven't heard that, but it would make sense, the dealers would exclusively use a pump, they could be drained and refilled without going near any ramps, so all the sump plug would be for is the DIY'er.

[Huff]

Getting the last bit out is easy, in fact you can do it all without a jack if you like.

Sainsbury's cheapo roasting tins, about £1.20 ea. Holds 2litres. 17mm spanner for sump plug - heck I can reach mine under the E34 without jacking (there's a handy flap in the undertrays) So - use oil extractor then drain-down last 1-2 litres into a 45mm high tin. Transfer to container & recycle. Done.


My E34 540 lives on street very, very nr The Circus, Bath, and gets regular oil services without anyone noticing, let alone complaining, and no mess/spotting

[8Tech]

So why not put an oil drain can, 17mm spanner, 36mm socket and a trolley jack in the boot and find a sideroad or quiet car park/trading estate one weekend and do it there?

Drain the oil, change the filter, refill with fresh oil then pour the removed oil into the now empty new oil cans and call into the dump on the way home to dispose of. Take a rag to wipe your hands, or even better, a pair of Latex gloves and you will not even get dirty.

The extraction pumps are ok but never get the last sludgy mess out that you would whilst draining properly through the sump bolt and you still need to dispose of the oily dripping oil filter and old oil anyway.

[Patrick Bateman]

You could do that, it'd still be more hassle than using an extractor though if that's what you're concerned about.